Housing loan for marginalized sector

Who says that only those who are working in companies or those with formal jobs are the only ones entitled to be granted of a # housing loan?

There is actually an agency of the Philippine government are priority # grants loans to those who are not qualified for a # Love ( http://www.pagibigfund.gov.ph/ ) loan  to own a lot or house or both.

 

This is the Social Housing Finance Corporation (SHFC).   http://www.shfcph.com/  And guess what THEIR office is just a floor below the PIA office here in Cebu.

It is an agency equivalent to love, but this time, for those doing the odd jobs, the trisikad drivers, vendors or simply non Charity members and does not have any landholding ever.

The SHFC implements the Community Mortgage Program (CMP) and this program is actually not so popular.

However there are already 96 in Cebu homeowners who availed of housing loans thru SHFC.

Guests Zeny Gread, LCMP Coordinator and Joel Ejes, Account Specialist of SHFC hosted by PIA Cebu Infocen Manager Rachelle Nessia and Radyo ng Bayan Wen Celen

In our # kapihanCebu this week, announced that since SHFC Visayas had recently been hit by disasters, the local government units actually has a way in Solving Problems on relocating residents living in danger zones or informal settlers solve the issues.

They can accessed a fund wherein Omnibus Commitment Line Called They can be granted as high as P50 million for lot acquisition and development.

Here is my story as posted in the official website of PIA.

http://news.pia.gov.ph/index.php?article=2441392794320

Local government units, specially those hit by calamities are Encouraged to avail of funds for socialized housing program.

Women received relief goods in San Remegio after typhoon Yolanda

 

In today’s Café PIA-Cebu, guests from the Social Housing Finance Corporation (SHFC) announced that there is an Omnibus Commitment Line of the Socialized Housing Finance Corporation are priority in the local government units can apply to Solve Problems of relocation / displacement.

 

Joel Ejes, account specialist said that a fund not exceeding P50 million can be applied by municipalities and cities and P20 million for qualified barangays who already have an identified social housing project.

 

A woman whose house was destroyed by typhoon Yolanda managed to smile

This fund, Ejes said, has to be implemented in a year.

 

An LGU can use the funds for offsite relocation, are the priority is the case of disaster hit areas.

 

Funds for the Off-site projects will be used for the acquiring and developing the land where informal settlers including those that are residing in danger zones will be relocated to the concept of community ownership.

 

According to Anne gread, local community mortgage program officer, it is very timely Because there is already a strict 50meter Implementation of the easement and forced the evacuation of residents from danger zones.

 

Already, Mayors THEIR tasking planners are areas of relocation for affected constituents.

Yolanda typhoon affected residents in San Remegio Received relief supplies.

 

 

Under OCL, SHFC can release 75 percent of the total land acquisition cost so that the project can start immediately.

 

Other than that that project also include off-site lot acquisition for those informal settlers covered with conviction court order and those that are voluntary transferring of one community from another Locality.

She lost her home due to typhoon Yolanda in Medellin town.

 

On the other hand, On-site project is for the purpose of acquiring the land already occupied by informal settlers.

 

Gread said, this program also GIVES the LGU an opportunity to earn since They are entitled to one sixth the total amount of the amortization provided that the collection rate is good.

 

Here in Cebu, Talisay City only has so far enjoyed the benefits of the CMP with a fast turn around of investment.

 

They said gread have five projects implemented in the city.

 

CMP is an initiative of the current undersecretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government Francisco Fernandez. He is also a former Cebu City administrator and founder of Pagtambayayong Foundation, Inc. ..

Those who want to inquire, just call SHFC Office in 303, 3rd Floor, Machay Building, Gorordo Avenue, Cebu City and 2,336,936.
And now this is not good news?

Cebu looks at a bright rice-sufficient future

Stronger ties forged between DA and Capitol
By Ferliza C. Contratista

CEBU CITY, May 1 (PIA7) — Cebu is not far from being rice sufficient this time with the Cebu Provincial Capitol behind.

This was the statement of Angel Enriquez, Department of Agriculture 7 Officer in Charge Regional Director, in the recent launching of the International Rice Year in Cebu.

In her speech, Enriquez thanked the Provincial Government including the mayors of the local government units for a good performance in rice production which eventually contributed to Central Visayas’ ranking among the Top 5 Rice Producing Regions in the country.

Enriquez said the Region had an increase of 1.32 percent growth in rice production from 2011 to 2012 from the 2,470 rice lands in the four provinces in the region.

Covering the same year, Cebu produced an average of 3.21 MT of palay per hectare.

There are 5,280 rice producing areas in the province.

Cebu, for now, is 2.65 percent sufficient.

“I know we can do more specially now that we had renewed our ties, coordination with Cebu Province. I just hope that soon they can appropriate enough budget for agriculture,” Enriquez said.

Cebu Acting Governor Agnes Magpale, for her part, said she was amazed with the performance of rice farmers in the province.

“I never thought that Cebu was a rice-producing province and so now I stand corrected. As a legislator, I do hope and I will work hard for the appropriation of a bigger budget for agriculture because this is actually good news,” Magpale said.

Magpale said the International Year of Rice advocacy is timely as it does not only promote optimization but also in the control or minimizing consumption.

She recalled former DA Secretary and then Congressman Sonny Escudero who told her and her husband that if only Filipinos will lessen two to three tablespoons their consumption of rice, it will already be a big help to attaining rice sufficiency.

“And now I see the same figures, that Filipinos waste 2 to 3 tablespoons of cooked rice daily, so my pledge is to maintain just 3 cups of rice daily,” Magpale said.

In a presentation made by Tomasita Cadungog, regional technical director for Operations in DA-7, it was learned that rice losses also take up a large part in the rice sufficiency problem.

Rice losses on the table means the wastage of an average of 2 to 3 table spoons of cooked rice daily.

Cadungog said Filipinos usually consume four and a half cups of rice instead of the recommended three cups of rice.

In terms of post harvest wastage, around 15 to 20 percent of the total production is lost. Considering that there are 16,935,000 kilograms of palay produced, around 3,300,000 kilos are lost during post harvest.

But because of the application of post harvest technologies, DA had managed to reduce losses by 5 percent or by 846,750 kilos of palay or rice equivalent to 550,387.5 kilos.

Considering that an average Cebuano consumes 83.98 kilos annually, there are about 6,000 more Cebuanos that can be fed with the savings.

In the said event, the different local government units signed their pledge in achieving rice sufficiency as well as hoist their respective banners for support.

The International Year of Rice logo was also unveiled and it will be displayed at the Cebu Provincial Capitol Social Hall. (rmn/FCC/PIA7)

DOE assures no power interruption on election day

By Ferliza Contratista

CEBU CITY, April 27 (PIA) –There will be no brown-outs during the elections.

Department of Energy Secretary Carlos Jericho Petilla recently assured that there will be no brown outs during the elections.

Petilla was in Cebu during the Visayas Wide Power Summit to brief the stakeholders about the power outlook.

“We have no shortfall this May, so there is no problem, we don’t want the DOE to be blamed for failure of elections,” Petilla said.

He told reporters that there will be enough power supply unless there is a sudden normal tripping.

Uninterrupted service is assured days before and after the elections.

Petilla during his presentation of the power supply outlook for 2012-2030 said that during this year, there is a slight shortfall in the Visayas for the reserve. It will still be bought but just place on stand by, he added.

He told participants from Regions 6, 7, and 8 that the issue on power is a long-term problem that needs a long-term solution.

“When there is outage, we deal with it, so this power summit is really a big help,” Petilla said.

He credited Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama, the current head of the Regional Development Council 7, for bringing him the idea of a convergence with all the stakeholders to discuss power or electricity issues and concerns.

Rama who gave his welcome remarks in the event said that the reforms needed in the power sector should not only come up with strategies for sufficient and reliable supply but also cheap or affordable power rates.

The event ended with a covenant signing by all stakeholders from the three regions towards a competitive power in the Visayas. (FCR/FCC-PIA7)

Over 3,500 students pass 2013 S&T Undergraduate Scholarship Exam

By Juju Manubag-Empuerto

CEBU CITY, April 2 (PIA) — The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Regional Office 7 said 3,597 high school students nationwide qualified for the S&T Undergraduate Scholarship.

The Science Education Institute’s (SEI) 2013 Science and Technology (S&T) Undergraduate Scholarship Examination was held on November 18, 2012 for School Year 2013-2014.

The complete list of qualifiers are now posted at the DOST website: http://www.science-scholarships.ph.

The number of passers is 7.1 percent higher than the 3,359 number of qualifiers last year.

Qualifiers are advised to report with a parent or legal guardian on April 19, 2013 at the DOST 7 Conference Hall, S&T Complex, Sudlon, Lahug, Cebu City.

There will be a scholarship orientation and signing of the Scholarship Agreement which will be done in two batches, morning and afternoon sessions.

The qualifiers are required to bring during the orientation the following requirements: 2013 Community Tax Certificate or current passport of Parent/Legal Guardian; Notarization fee of P100.00; Notarized affidavit of guardianship or special power of attorney (if legal guardian); Photocopy of 2 valid ID’s (back and front); 1 pc. 2” X 2” and 2 pcs. 1” X 1” colored picture (with white background wearing semi-formal attire); and black ballpen.

The passers are requested to call the DOST Regional Office at (032) 4189055 or email avpdost7@yahoo.com.ph for the their schedules of the orientation. (rmn/JSME/PIA-Cebu/DOST-7)

Feature: 4Ps: A partner in strength for single mothers

By Juju Manubag-Empuerto

CEBU CITY, April 1 (PIA) — An African proverb says that it takes a village to raise a child.

But for some Filipino families, it took a government program to help them raise their children.

Nieves Labrado, 38, of Orlandao, Basay, Cebu found it hard to move on with her life after her husband of 13 years left her for another woman. Nieves was left alone to care for her three children ages 13, 9, and 7 years old.

But Nieves did move on, thanks to the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilino Program (4Ps), the government’s core poverty reduction program that gives conditional cash grants to its beneficiaries. Nieves was able to become a useful member of the society as the 4Ps empowered her because, as was emphasized during the 4Ps Family Development Sessions, she was capable.

Emboldened by what she learned during the sessions, Labrador looked for a job and with her skills in the kitchen it was not long before people in the community sought her out for her culinary skills. In between her stint as a cook-for-hire, she sought a SEA-K Loan with the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s Sustainable Livelihood Program with zero interest loan.

With her loan money, Nieves bought kitchen utensils and tools to make native delicacies like puto cheese, maja blanca, and other “kakanin” which she sells in schools and during fiestas and special occasions in her community.

4Ps is a human development program of the national government that provides a monthly conditional cash grant to the identified poor household amounting to P500 for health and P300 per child for a maximum of 3 children, aged 0 to14 years old. The cash grant will be given to the household in the next five years.

The households will have to comply with the conditions set by DSWD, among which are: (1) pregnant mothers should get pre-natal and post-natal care and must be attended by a qualified health professional during childbirth (2) 0-5 years old must be immunized and given preventive health check-ups (3) children ages 3-14 years old must attend at least 85% of the time of the classes whether it’s day-care, pre-school, elementary or high-school (4) mothers must attend community assemblies, motherhood classes, family planning, etc. and (5) children must be given de-wormed at least twice a year.

Another woman helped by 4Ps is Rhodora Elbanbuena of Carmen, Cebu whose husband left her and their five children ages 12, 11, 9, 3 and 1 month. Rhodoroa witnessed how the breakup in her marriage has shaken her children’s world. She thought she wouldn’t be able to continue providing for her children but with Pantawid Pamilya’s help, Rhodora was able to pull through.

As one of the Parent Leaders of Pantawid Pamilya, Elbanbuena has set an example to her members. She started by cooking “kakanin” to be sold in schools while taking care of livestocks for other people. In the midst of all these, she never missed any of her children’s activities in school.

Rhodora has not only taken over as the family provider, she even enhanced her motherhood by being consistently compliant with the Pantawid Pamilya program’s conditions.

Rhodora’s and Nieves’ stories are among those highlighted by DSWD in Region 7 to serve as inspiration for single mothers in the region.

These women, from different municipalities and different cultures have one thing in common: they are mothers who have been empowered with love and guided by a program’s education to withstand one of life’s greatest challenges – to be a single mother for their children. (rmn/JSME/PIA-Cebu/DSWD)

A Journey Back Home…

This month, a group of Filipino Americans together with three YouTube sensations will visit the Philippines to showcase Philippine tourism to the new generations of Filipino Americans.

The Bayani Tour (www.fb.com/bayanitour) aims to unveil the essence of “Bayanihan” to the Filipino American community and to remind them of the common thread that binds Filipinos.

Source

PNoy message for 2013

“For 2013, I ask this: let us continue helping each other through bayanihan. Hand-in-hand let us tread the path towards a bright and rich future for our nation. I am one with you in hoping for a far better year for all of us.”

– President Benigno S. Aquino III, in his message for the New Year, December 31, 2012

Source

Click here to read the full message

Daylight is a weekly newsletter produced by the PCDSPO, and is characterized as “Good News about the Philippines and Pinoys.” It features key accomplishments of various government agencies, and includes select articles on government initiatives, as well as excerpts from major speeches of the President. Daylight is distributed to all government agencies and members of the media, and is available online through the Official Gazette and through the PCDSPO website.

LTFRB to allow 40 buses to enter city streets on Sinulog Day

For the convenience of Cebuanos from the province

By Ferliza C. Contratista

Posted: [link]

CEBU CITY, Jan 9 (PIA) — The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board 7 (LTFRB-7) will issue special permits to 40 buses to enter the city during the celebration of the Sinulog 2013 festival.

LTFRB 7 Regional Director Ahmed Cuizon said they will be allowing buses from northern and southern part of the province to load and unload near the Cebu City Sports Complex.

LTFRB has held a consolidating meeting with the Land Transportation Office (LTO) and the City Transport Operations and Management (CITOM).

CITOM Assistant Director Joy Tumulak said 20 buses were allowed from the North until Andres Soriano Avenue, while the south-bound buses may be permitted until Natalio Bacalso Avenue.

The buses will collect only a regular fare of P10 to help defray the expenses.

Last year there were 60 buses given special permits.

This is the third year that LTFRB initiated allowing entry of provincial buses into the city proper following complaints of revelers who were stranded for the day’s festivities.

The Sinulog celebration last year drew a crowd of nearly two million during the grand parade day.

Most of the revelers and devotees are from outside Cebu City.

The Sinulog celebration will kick off January 10 with a solemn procession Walk with Jesus from Fuente Osmena Circle and will end on January 25 with the “Hubo” Mass or the changing of the garments of the Sr. Sto. Nino. (rmn/FCC/PIA-CEBU)